Nearly 6,000 civilians were killed in Iraq during the two months of May and
June, according to a report prepared by UN Assistance Mission for Iraq.

"A total of 5,818 civilians were reportedly killed and at least 5,762 wounded
during May and June 2006," the human rights report said Tuesday.

It said "killings, kidnappings and torture remain widespread in Iraq and the
number of civilians killed continues to grow", adding that 244 women and 71
children were killed during these two months.

Most of the victims were killed in Baghdad.

It said professionals from the judiciary, health and education facalties were
particularly targeted in the violence.

The UN document said that the Iraqi health ministry had acknowledged that at
least 50,000 people have been killed since 2003 and some 150,000 people
displaced from their homes because of the violence.

"The displaced people find themselves in a condition of vulnerability,
lacking many basic rights and competing for limited services which increase
inter-communal animosity in their points of arrival," the report added.

The report said displaced Shiites were seen heading to the south, while the
Sunnis were travelling to the north.

A large number of Iraqis have been displaced following the upsurge of
sectarian violnece since the bombing of a revered Shiite shrine in Samarra in
February.